10 Minutes Could Be a Lifesaver

On Wednesday, June 24, the Lab will hold an emergency exercise. And you play a key role.

As part of the exercise, everyone on site that day will receive a LabAlert at approximately 9:15 a.m. with the steps you should take. Please take part in this exercise. It will take approximately 10 minutes, and you’ll be better prepared for a real emergency.

In the next few weeks, past Elements stories focused on wildfire risk and preparation will be re-run as we prepare for a warm, dry summer.

Wildfire is inevitable in the Berkeley Hills. The topography and weather conditions at the Lab’s hill site make it critical that everyone be aware and prepared.

One way the Lab is preparing is by reviewing the previously designated Safe Area For Emergencies (SAFE) buildings, where the entrances were marked with blue SAFE signs. Unfortunately, the acronym was unclear, and many people assumed safe meant safe for any emergency. New changes to the California building and fire codes made this a good time to reevaluate the selected buildings and change the signage to reflect them as temporary wildfire refuges.

Twelve of the Lab’s hill site buildings, two per zone, have been designated as Wildfire Temporary Refuge Buildings:

  • Zone 1: B50 Complex, B59

  • Zone 2: B55, B91

  • Zone 3: B15, B30

  • Zone 4: B76, B78

  • Zone 5: B66, B67

  • Zone 6: B74, B84

 These buildings have been selected because they are constructed of concrete and other noncombustible materials, making them more resilient to wildfire. 

Listen to the conversation as August Harless, hazards analyst, and Ian De Vries, fire engineer, from the Lab’s Security and Emergency Services Division discuss evacuating the Lab or directing people to wildfire refuge buildings if that is a better choice. Learn what you need to do to be prepared for a wildfire. 

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

RUNNING TIME: 11:44

Resources

READY
Sign up for LabAlert

Prepare a Go Bag

Take the latest Lab required emergency training

Know the Evacuation Assembly Areas

Know the location of the Lab’s 12 Wildfire Temporary Refuge Buildings

SET
Local weather

Check status.lbl.gov

GO
Follow the instructions from LabAlert

If you would like to hear more Berkeley Lab podcasts, become part of our trial of a new podcast platform exclusively for Berkeley Lab staff.  Send a note saying you want to try it to elements@lbl.gov from your Lab email address and you can be one of the first to trial the podcast series, “It’s Elemental.”
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